How does Manatee conservation rank against other Florida counties? See the list

As Manatee County and other local governments in Florida increase land conservation efforts to balance development and population growth, a statewide program is tracking their progress.

The Florida Natural Areas Inventory, a program based at Florida State University, tracks conservation efforts around the state and publishes them in an annual report. The program tallies lands protected by federal, state and local programs, as well as private conservation lands.

Among Florida’s 67 counties, Manatee ranks 52nd for the percent of its land in conservation, according to FNAI’s 2025 report. The report shows that 67,220 of Manatee County’s 474,240-acre land area, or 14%, is protected by conservation.

Here’s how that compares to other counties around the state. Recent land acquisitions may not yet be reflected in the totals, according to FNAI.

1. Monroe: 97%

2. Franklin: 86%

3. Collier: 69% (tie)

4. Miami-Dade: 69% (tie)

5. Liberty: 66% (tie)

6. Wakulla: 66% (tie)

7. Broward: 62%

8. Okaloosa: 53%

9. Baker: 45%

10. Brevard: 43%

11. Charlotte: 42% (tie)

12. Santa Rosa: 42% (tie)

13. Leon: 41%

14. Walton: 39%

15. Clay: 38% (tie)

16. Jefferson: 38% (tie)

17. Palm Beach: 38% (tie)

18. Marion: 37%

19. Citrus: 36% (tie)

20. Volusia: 36% (tie)

21. Dixie: 35%

22. Lake: 34%

23. Columbia: 33% (tie)

24. Glades: 33% (tie)

25. Highlands: 33% (tie)

26. Sarasota: 33% (tie)

27. Sumter: 33% (tie)

28. Indian River: 31%

29. Hernando: 29% (tie)

30. Okeechobee: 29% (tie)

31. Osceola: 29% (tie)

32. Hendry: 28% (tie)

33. Martin: 28% (tie)

34. Putnam: 28% (tie)

35. Polk: 26%

36. Levy: 25%

37. Pasco: 24%

38. Alachua: 23%

39. St. Johns: 22%

40. Gulf: 21% (tie)

41. Lee: 21% (tie)

42. Seminole: 21% (tie)

43. Duval: 19%

44. DeSoto: 18% (tie)

45. Orange: 18% (tie)

46. Hillsborough: 17% (tie)

47. Lafayette: 17% (tie)

48. Bay: 15% (tie)

49. Flagler: 15% (tie)

50. Taylor: 15% (tie)

51. Washington: 15% (tie)

52. Manatee: 14%

53. Pinellas: 12%

54. Escambia: 11% (tie)

55. St. Lucie: 11% (tie)

56. Nassau: 9%

57. Hamilton: 8%

58. Bradford: 6% (tie)

59. Gadsden: 6% (tie)

60. Hardee: 6% (tie)

61. Gilchrist: 5%

62. Madison: 5% (tie)

63. Suwannee: 5% (tie)

64. Holmes: 4% (tie)

65. Jackson: 4% (tie)

66. Calhoun: 2%

67. Union: 0%

Total Florida lands in conservation: 31%